EFFECT OF ORGANOPHOSPHATE INSECTICIDE ON THE OOGENESIS OF THE EDIBLE CRAB, SCYLLA SERRATA

Two organophosphorous pesticide, Methyl parathion and Phosalone, were exposed to the marine crab, S. serrata, for acute and chronic studies. Both the pesticides brought several abnormalities in the ovary of immature and maturing crabs. The overall observations made were, derangement of oocytes, vacuolization and degeneration of tissue, lack of nuclei and nucleoli, at retic follicles followed by chromatolysis. Germinal and proliferating zone was effected and oogonial cells were degenerated in immature animals. However, phosalone treatment brought a recovery in the ovary during long term exposure with the development of phagocytes and follicular cells.